Trenton, Michigan- 33rd District Court Judge Edward J. Nykiel recently announced that he will seek re-election to his position. The court serves the cities of Flat Rock, Gibraltar, Rockwood, Trenton and Woodhaven and the townships of Brownstown and Grosse Ile.
“It is with a great sense of commitment and an even greater sense of honor that I seek to continue to serve the people of the 33rd District. I am confident that my many years of experience, strong work ethic and community involvement will be well regarded by the voters as I undertake this journey,” Nykiel said.
Judge Nykiel is currently serving as Chief Judge Pro-Tem and Presiding Judge of the Sobriety Court Program. An attorney for 22 years, Nykiel also served as 33rd District Court Administrator from 1985 to 1998.
Judge Nykiel works with his fellow judges and the court administrator to efficiently
and economically operate the court. In 2009, the docket calendar was revised to ensure prompt adjudication of cases at a lower cost, while protecting due process rights. This year, the overall budgeted expenditures were reduced by more than $150,000 (5.7%).
In 2007 he teamed with judges, staff, and community stakeholders to develop and implement a Sobriety Court Program utilizing existing resources and available grants. Repeat offenders with an underlying drug and/or alcohol dependency who are committed to breaking the bonds of addiction may be admitted to this program in lieu of serving jail time. Participants must obtain employment and are monitored closely through frequent chemical testing and face-to-face meetings with the probation officer and presiding judge. Each successful participant in the program (the first five participants graduated in March 2010) represents a savings to the community in the form of reduced jail costs while yielding a productive, sober member of society.
Judge Nykiel literally brings his courtroom to local schools with his participation in the Court to School Program. Middle and High School students are able to observe offenders being sentenced “on the record” in their school. An interactive question and answer period follows the proceedings so that students can learn about, and make relevant, what they observe.
Other improvements to the court operation that Judge Nykiel helped to implement over the past five years include:
§ a mediation program for community dispute resolution of civil and small claims cases
§ electronic writing of traffic tickets that are uploaded to the court’s computer system from the issuing officer’s car
§ an enhanced website that allows citizens to pay traffic tickets and look up cases on-line
§ expansion of the jail alternative community work program
§ renovations to the courthouse that include enhancements to the security surveillance systems.
A lifelong resident of the 33rd Judicial District, Nykiel was born and raised on Grosse Ile, lived in Trenton for 9 years, and currently makes his home on Grosse Ile with his wife Debbie and their two year old son. Nykiel attends St. Joseph Catholic Church in Trenton where he also serves as a lector. He is a member of the St. Joseph Athletic Boosters.
Judge Nykiel worked his way through college at the University of Michigan as a steel mill laborer and an auto plant assembly line worker. He earned his law degree at Detroit College of Law in the night school program. He is a member of numerous professional organizations, including the American Bar Association, Downriver Bar Association and State Bar of Michigan. He is a Past President of the Michigan Court Administration Association. Nykiel also served as a volunteer attorney for the Michigan Hospice and Palliative Care Organization.
Nykiel is active in civic and social organizations. As President of the Trenton Rotary Club in 1994, he co-founded the Trenton High School Interact Club, a community service organization for students. Nykiel served as an advisor to the Interact Club for two years. He is currently a third degree member and past Advocate of the Knights of Columbus Msgr. Eppenbrock Council in Trenton. Nykiel also served the City of Trenton as an alternate Zoning Board of Appeals Commissioner for two years. He is a member of many community organizations.
Nykiel said that a vote for him is a vote for a judge who has lived up to his campaign pledge of being “tough on crime” but always “fair to all concerned”. A campaign fundraiser is set for May 26 at Fratello’s 5:30-7:30pm.
Anyone wishing to contact the campaign committee can do so by phone at (734) 775-5990, email at reelect-ed@nykiel.net or visit the campaign’s website and view all his endorsements at www.judgenykiel.com.
###
